Incubator-tray.



1; F. HARRISON, JR., DEC D.

C. l. HARRISON. ADMINISTRATOR.

mcusmon' TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15,19I8.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

INVENTOR Join F. Harrison Jr.

ATTORNEY riuirnn s'rarns JOHN E.

EN a ms r ARRISON, m, or LADDONIA, MIssoUnIycnocKETr J. HARRISON ADMINISTRATOR 0F SAID JOHN HARRISON, .13., DEoEAsED.

INCUBATOR-TRAY.

incense.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that .1, JOHN F. HARnrsoN, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Laddoniai in the county of Audrain and P rt larly to a tray for holding the eggs. 3 in an incubator. V

()ne-of themain objects of the invention is to provide a tray of the character stated of simple construction and operation by means of which the eggs to be incubated may be secured againstexcessive movement so as to prevent breakage thereof. A further object; is to provide a tray by means of which. the eggs may be held securely in positionso as to permit the tray to be turned for the purpose of turning simultaneously all of the eggs contained within the-tray, thus effecting a material saving of time and labor. Another object is to provide a tray composed of two sections movable toward and away from each other,

these two sections being provided with meansfor supportingand resiliently gripping the eggs so asto prevent movement thereof when the tray is inverted for the purpose of turning the eggs. A still fur; ther object is to provide a tray the effective height which may be readily varied to suit different-sizes and kinds of eggs. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure 1. is a top plan view of a tray constructed in accordance with my invention, 1 i.

r Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at right angles to F ig. v 2.

This tray is of rectangular or box-like con- 7 struction, and is formed of the upper section 1 andthe lower section 2. This upper section is provided, adjacent its top,with a rectangular frame 3, to which is secured a piece of Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Patented Apr. 15,1919. j Application filed. Apri115,1918, Seria1Np.2 28,65 1. l

to the width of the end board 5. v These side and end boards cooperate to produce a box frame which fits about the top fra'1ne'3 so as to completely inclose the same and extends a considerable distance below this top frame,

Adjacent each endof the top frame 3, a runner strip 9 issecured to facilitate insertion of, and removal of, thetray into or from an incubator. Lower section 2 is of similar construction'to the upper ;section .1 being provided with the lower frame 3? having thefabric cover a end'boards 5;

and side board 7. V, v

The two sections 1 and 2 are mountedin spaced superposedrelation and are oppositely'disposedso as to form a casing for containing the eggs,as shown in Fig. 3. Adjacent each end of each side board 7 of the upper section 1, is secured a substantially,

The threaded stem 13 fits snugly through i an aperture throughthe horizontal arm 14 of an angle-bracket 15. whose vertical plate is secured onthe side board 7 ofthe lower 7 section 2 and has a finger extendingbelow the lower edge thereof. A. securing nut 16 is threaded on shank 13 above arnr 14, a similar nut 17 being threaded on to; the shank beneath this. arm. The nuts 16 and 17 cooperate. to adjust the upper section toward and away from the lower section and to secure the two sections in adjustment so as to prevent relative movement thereof. By this means, I provide an adjusting and securing device adjacent each corner of the tray by means of which the two sections may be moved toward and away from each other'so as to-cause the fabric coverings or screens 4 and P to be brought into gripping engagement with the eggs 18 placed in the tray.

In using this tray, the eggs to be incu bated are placed in the lower section 2 so as to be supported by the screen 4* thereof in the ordinary manner, the eggs being placed closely together and, if there is any vacant space this may be filled by any suitable material such as excelsior, raw cotton, or other material suitable for the purpose.

manner. 7

sertion or removal of the tray, strips 9 are Afterthe eggs have been placed the lower section, the upper section 1 is then placed in position with the threaded stem 13 of the securing devices projecting through the arm 14 of the angle bracket. By means of the nuts 16 and 17,.

the upper section is then adjusted toward the lower section a sufficient distance to tain the same in position, the resiliency of the screens -perventin'g breakageof the eggs. It should be understood, of course, that the two sections should be adjusted so as to grip the eggs securely without exerting unnecessary pressure thereon. l/Vhen the eggs have been placed in the tray, this tray is then inserted' into the incubator in the ordinary As above stated, to-"fac'ilitate inprovided adjacent the ends o'ftop section above the frame 3. Similar strips 9 are also provided adjacent each end of the lower section 2; When it is desired to remove any of the eggs from the tray to'test for fertility, or for any other reason, the upper seotionniay be readily removed for this purpose and replaced in the manner previously described when it is desired to reinsert the tray intothe incubator. "When it is desired to turn the eggs, as should bedone at least every twenty-four hours during "the period of incubation from the time Ofplacing the eggs in the incubator to Withinthree' days of the time for hatching, that is during a period of eighteen daysapproXimately, this may be readily accomplished by Withdrawing the tray from the incubator'and inverting it afterwhich the tray may be then'rei nserted.

By this means, I effect a great saving of time and labor in the turning of the eggs as all of theeggscontained Within one tray may be turned at a'single operation instead of being turned individually and by hand as is ;now the common practice. When the eggs pip,- the upper section of the tray may be removed so as to permit the chicks to escape from the tray into the lower portion of the incubator.

It will beevident that there may be slight changesniade in the constructionand ariangenient of the different parts of my invention without departing from the field and scopeof the same, and I intend .to includeallsuch variations, as fall within the' scope of'the appended claims,"in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

acting to grip .eg'gs placed within the tray formed by the sections so as to prevent movement thereof, and --means for holding the, frames in place; combined with plates secured to the exterior of said sections, the upper plates having fingers passing over the upper edges of the sections and the flower plates having fingers" passing under the lower edges of their sections, arms project-- ing outward from the lower plates, heads projecting from the upper platesgand having depending threaded shanks passing through said arms, and an adjusting nut on the shanks above and below said arms,

for the purpose set forth.

2. In incubator trays, an upper section of box-like construction provided adjacent its upper end with-ascreen closure member, a lower sectionofboX-like GDnStIUGfiOIi-POSitioned beneath the upper section and provided adjacent: its lower endw-ith a: screen closure member, angle "brackets secured- 130 said lower section adj acent the ends thereof,-

said angle brackets being provided 'with outwardly directedghorizontal arms, heads secured to the upper section and provided with depending threaded stems inserted through openings provided through; the horizontal armsof'the said angle br'ackets,

and securing and adjusting nu'ts threaded on the stems of said headsabove and below the horizontal arms of the bracket members.

In testimony whereof I .aflix.mysiignature V in presence of two witnesses.

V F. HARRISON, JR,

Witnesses:

R. B. GAUrHoRN, FRANK A. "CAUTHORN.

Copies or this patent may be obtained =for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 'D. .0. 

